Economic Benefits

Great Lakes restoration is good for the environment and the economy. A study from the University of Michigan funded by the Michigan Sea Grant showed that more than 1.5 million jobs are connected to the Great Lakes, generating $62 billion in wages each year. In 2007, economists at the Brookings Institution concluded that Great Lakes restoration investments produced at least a 2-to-1 return on investment, while a study from 2011 showed that one restoration project in Michigan generated a 6-to-1 return on investment.

The Great Lakes are the backbone of the one of the world’s largest regional economies. For example,

Great Lakes state businesses and individuals account for about 28 percent of U.S. gross domestic product, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis;

the states in the Great Lakes basin, according to Fortune Magazine, is home to 38 percent of the Fortune 500 companies;

the lakes attract more than 1.5 million anglers annually, who are the foundation of a $7 billion sport and recreational fishery that supports 58,291 jobs, according to the American Sportfishing Association; and

a study done by the Great Lakes Commission found there are 4.3 million registered boats in the eight-state region. Spending on boating and boating activities generated $16 billion in 2003, directly supporting 107,000 jobs.